Something we are terrible at as a nation is negotiation.
Look around you. The university was closed because the SRC had encouraged the protest. Businesses are closed because landlords expect full rent during the lockout. We’re still a long way from the private marijuana laws that were promised years ago because the legislature is too busy recovering from the ongoing ‘point of order’ whiplash.
However, we wonder why graduates are unemployed, why small businesses are struggling and why something like the Domestic Partnership Bill, which was designed to solve important social problems, has not moved more than it did in 2008.
Holding SA hostage
This tradition of using strength in numbers to get our way regardless of the bigger picture has held the nation hostage. It is a misunderstanding of the way democracy works; one does not call the shots for their own benefit just because they are in the majority. One calls the shots for the benefit of the nation because they are the majority. This is wishful thinking at this point, but it doesn’t have to be.
This is where unions can finally step in and do something for the nation. It’s not like he’s done much else over the last few years, so I’d say he owes it to him. And this is not a few appeals to say they should ignore the request and expectations of a good increase. Who can blame anyone for wanting more, especially if they believe they deserve it?
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This is an appeal to the reading room! Telkom retrench people. Transnet can barely move two trains at the same time on either side of the country and Eskom… they can’t keep the lights on. Then you have the small shame of municipalities that can’t provide basic services, schools that can’t teach and hospitals that have well-paid staff, but no equipment or medicine for staff to work on.
Everyone will suffer
It’s not very good now, you know, if you don’t notice and, well, again, no I’m not saying you can’t ask for more money. However, I am saying that the money is not there and the more you milk it, the harder you push the national debt, the higher you drive the bloated salary bill, the more your members will suffer…the children. We all will. So, let’s think about it a little.
And yes, it would be easy to shrug it off and say it’s not your problem and the problem will only start when you’re in retirement, but I’ll bet your retirement fund won’t be able to get you there. any sense of exorbitant inflation. They think about electricity, and look at how much you’re worth now.
Discuss with your mind cover
How about this? Union. Go to the negotiating table with your mind closed. Think about your members when thinking about the country’s long-term viability. Make a request and add something to your list… give me something. Try it. whatever. Ask your members to agree to take 15 minutes less for lunch. Set output targets and better mechanisms to enforce them. Why not even comply with stricter rules to get the job done.
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From an individual perspective, I understand that people have the right to improve. It’s just that the improvement has to come from somewhere and I’d rather that the individual make it hard than put himself out of the job in the end. After speaking, I again invite you to read the room.
Strike, make demands, express yourself; it’s all good. You are also part of South Africa and the important thing is that you enjoy freedom and rights like the next person. It just doesn’t mean that we are exempt from helping to solve our problems. It is important that you understand this because it does not look very good in terms of economic growth, business, tax revenue and the lacuna of excellent leadership.